Drug driver sentenced for causing tractor to crash into houses 

The driver of the Mercedes failed a roadside drug test after the accident, which caused a tractor towing a slurry tanker to veer off the road.

Matthew Cumpsty appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 15th July, where he was handed a 12-month community order, including 200 hours community service. 

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 surcharge.

The 52-year-old, of Oldfield Drive, Great Boughton, had earlier pleaded guilty to drug driving and dangerous driving.

The court heard that at around 6.30am on Tuesday 1st April, Cumpsty was driving a silver Mercedes E-Class on Green Lane in Chester.

As he approached the junction with the A51, Vicars Cross Road, he drove straight through a red light, into the path of a JCB tractor, which had been travelling out of Chester.

The impact of the collision caused the tractor to veer off path and crash into homes at the side of the road.

Watch the video:

Emergency services attended the scene and on arrival found that two properties had suffered serious structural damage. Thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries as a result of the incident.

Cumpsty was arrested at the scene after failing a roadside drugs swipe. A toxicology report later reveal that he was over the limit for benzoylecgonine (cocaine) with 65 micrograms per litre of blood, over the limit of 50 micrograms per litre.

CCTV footage recovered from the scene showed him clearly driving through the red light.

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Life-changing impact

Following the sentencing, police constable Richard Phillips, said:

“While Cumpsty has shown remorse for his actions, the impact of his actions that day were lifechanging and it was pure chance that nobody suffered any serious injuries.

“As a result of one bad decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence, several families were left homeless and commuters travelling into Chester were left with serious disruption for several weeks while repair work was undertaken.

“In addition, Cumpsty is facing a lengthy driving ban, I hope that this ban will give him time to reflect on his actions that day.”

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